PH hits US ‘carrot and stick’ diplomacy

FURTHER escalating the Duterte administration’s increasingly anti-American rhetoric, Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. claimed America has “failed” the Philippines, rejecting what he called the United States’ “carrot and stick” policy.

Yasay’s statement, titled “America has failed us,” was posted on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs as President Rodrigo Duterte said he might soon “break up” with the US over its criticism of his bloody anti-drug war and instead turn to China and Russia.

“Breaking away from the shackling dependency of the Philippines to effectively address both internal and external security threats has become imperative in putting an end to our nation’s subservience to United States’ interests,” Yasay said.

The Cabinet official said that while the US granted independence to the Philippines in 1946, the former colonial masters “held on to invisible chains that reined us in towards dependency and submission as little brown brothers not capable of true independence and freedom.”

Duterte has threatened to end joint military exercises between the Philippine and US militaries to appease China, as well as scrap a 2014 executive agreement allowing the rotational presence of American troops.

Yasay acknowledged that the Philippines has much to thank the US as a result of the two countries’ treaty alliance, but “the stark reality is that even in protecting our territorial boundaries and the exclusive use of our maritime entitlements in the South China Sea, our defensive forces remain grossly incapable in meeting the security threats that we face.”

Worse, he said, there was no assurance that the US would defend the Philippines if it took a hard line on its sovereignty rights under international law.

Yasay charged that the US “carrot and stick” policy toward the Philippines had been “effectively used all through the long years since our independence to force Filipinos into submission to American demands and interests.”

“This is what [President Duterte] is now trying to liberate us from,” he said.
Yasay said Duterte’s tirades were addressed to US leaders.

“Are they willing to change their tack in dealing with us to be in sync with geopolitical realities? Does it value our special friendship to save and strengthen it?” he asked.

No bullying

Addressing concerns over Duterte’s desire for closer relations with other powers such as China, Yasay said the Philippines won’t allow Chinese bullying.

“Our past mistakes in fostering and strengthening our friendship with our white big brother will be instructive for this purpose. We will never allow China or any other nation to bully us or deal with Philippine interests under another carrot and stick policy,” he said.

Malacañang on Thursday said the Philippines is in “an open relationship” with the United States.
Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella reiterated that Duterte was merely emphasizing the need for an independent foreign policy.

“It does not necessarily mean breaking up alliances,” he stressed.

Speaking to Palace reporters, Jose Almonte, who was national security chief during the Ramos administration, said the Philippines should be “friends” with everybody, allies and enemies alike.

“The Philippines could remain as friends with our old allies like America, but at the same time, we can be friends with all others including enemies of America. This will be the best policy given, in fact, a situation where we are not as powerful as the rest,” he said.

Not mendicants

On Wednesday, Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo cautioned Duterte against his rants against foreign leaders, warning that the incendiary remarks could cut the flow of foreign aid.

Duterte himself dismissed this in a talk before policemen in Butuan City on Thursday.

“I do not expect human rights [advocates], I do not expect [US President Barack Obama], I do not expect the EU to understand me. Do not understand me. And if you think it’s high time for you to withdraw assistance, go ahead. We will not beg for it,” the President said.

“How do you look at us? Mendicants? We will survive. We will survive as a nation.”

Duterte said Filipinos shouldn’t let the next generation fall to the “evil of drugs” in exchange for “crumbs.”

More uncertainty?

Professor Richard Javad Heydarian of De La Salle University’s political science department said that while Duterte’s move to distance the country from the US as part of an “independent foreign policy” was commendable, the President should avoid a rift with the Western superpower because it would create more uncertainties in the region.

“If there is a tension between the Philippines and the US, that will definitely not help the Philippines negotiate its position when it deals with China. And if anything, it will encourage China to contribute tension [and]it would become easier for China to dominate areas claimed by the Philippines,” he told The Manila Times in a telephone interview.

“Let’s not be naive about China’s intention. Their intention is to dominate the South China Sea, they believe it’s their natural true soil. So the last thing that you want is to eliminate your bargaining position or to weaken your bargaining position with your most important defender or ally,” the analyst added.

25 Comments

The American government may view the Philippines as WEAK the fact that we do not have the modern armaments to face our foes. However if given the privilege to stand on our feet without interference and manipulations from the US government we can acquire war technologies from other countries like Italy, France, South Korea, among others to modernize our armed forces. It might be too late but at least we can maximize our time modernizing it. The DU30 administration must stop corruption, effectively and efficiently collect taxes to finance the said modernization. In believe , we, Filipinos can do it. We can make it! If we succeed (which I presume we can) then and only then we can raise our head high and tell the Americans that we did survive..

Are the thieves in Congress going to give back their pork barrel kickbacks ?
Are the thieves going to give back the funds they stole from the DAP fund ?
How about all the government contracts they awarded in exchange for kickbacks ?
What about the Yolanda funds ?
The billions from hundreds of scams they use every year to steal from the budget ?

Thus do I counsel you, my friends: distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful
(Friedrich Nietzsche) (1844-1900)

There are 25 million people in Australia. Australia gave 600 million to the Philippines last year in aid money CASH. As an Australian taxpayer I want my money back. I am sure the Americans feel the same.

Bite the hand that feeds you and see what happens. We do not need to help you anymore. You have sucked enough charity out of your “allies” and friends.

The United States is the country’s largest source of official development assistance (ODA), at $1.15 billion in 2014. The United Nations came in second with $608 million, followed by Australia with $587 million and the European Union with $175 million.

The rest of the top 10 are Japan with $167 million, Germany with $125 million, Asian Development Bank with $118 million, South Korea with $94 million and the World Bank with $84 million
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Duterte has insulted most of the countries on that list along with threats to break ties.

Let’s face reality, US is an ally but it is also true that we cannot expect US to defend us much more die for us. Even President Marcos raised that concern during his Washington visit. In the event of an attack, US government and military will not come to our rescue as the pro US would want us to believe. The treaty would have to go to the process of getting the approval of the US congress which would take days, weeks or even months of debate if they would benefit from it, while we are all dying here. Be real and stop being a US fanatic. Stop the “Ironclad” term

Don’t blame the US for the Philippines’ problems. Perhaps if there was less political corruption, where officials for decades have lined their pockets, then there would be more money to address the issues. Filipinos deserve better.

America did not fail us. We failed miserably from one bad president to the next. Imagine, 2 consecutive president jailed for corruption. Only in the Philippines. There were 3 actually. Marcos was also in house arrest in Hawaii. There will be 4. This guy may be the first to be taken out.

It’s easy to poke fun at the Americans or kill off a bunch of “drug dealers” but taking on the real problems of poverty and a stagnant economy is much harder. Perhaps the Russians and Chinese can help bring the Philippines out of it’s sorry economic state. Made a dose of Mao and Stalin is just what the Philippines needs.

“held on to invisible chains that reined us in towards dependency and submission as little brown brothers not capable of true independence and freedom.”

Our past mistakes in fostering and strengthening our friendship with our white big brother will be instructive for this purpose. We will never allow China or any other nation to bully us
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That sure is a racist rant.

The statement “the Philippines will never allow China to bully them”,
What will you do when China takes something from the Philippines ? Run to the United Nations again ? Cuss them out ? What can you do about it ?
It’s ok you can tell us, We all know the answer.

China has interfered with Philippine petroleum exploration at Reed Bank, tried to stop fishing by Philippine vessels within the country’s exclusive economic zone and failed to prevent Chinese fishermen from fishing within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone at Mischief Reef and Second Thomas Shoal.

Two mountains in Zambales were leveled as landfill for China’s reclamation of Scarborough Shoal.

China took islands from the Philippines, Leveled two mountains and took that so they could expand and turn the islands into military bases and told the Philippines to GTFO.

What did the Philippines government do about that ? Filed a case with the UN.

Even tho the Philippines won the case China said big deal we are keeping it.

America doesn’t owe Philippines anything. You will never get anymore from me personally, and I will lobby our leaders not to assist Philippines in any way. Go to hell Duterte. You are destroying your image, your country and will affect your citizen’s lives negative ways for years to come. You are a disaster, and the dumbest leader I have ever seen. Again, GO TO HELL.